Key case



March 19, 1929. K R Q LEGA-r 1,706,175

KEY CASE Filed July l2, 1927 A 4/ l J l .WIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIH V Patented Mar. 19, 19.29.

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PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERTO. LEGAT, OF NEVI BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO G. E. PRENTICE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

KEY CASE.

Application filed July 112, 1927. Serial No. 205,141.

rlhis invention relates to key cases of a type now commonly used for carrying a plurality of keys so as to prevent their loss and to protectV the pocket of the user from eX- cessive wear.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a simple and practical structure of this character which may be quickly, easily and cheaply made and to provide a key retainer for such cases so designed that the keys are freely movable in substantially all directions with respect to the case, thus permitting the keys'to be used in practically any Vposition without requiring that they be removed from the case.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in the claims vand will be apparent from a description of one embodiment of the invention in the following specication when read with the accompanying drawings; in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the complete case in open position;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts during the process of construction; and

Fig. 41 is an elevation of al key-holding member.

As an examplel ofthe use of my improved key-retaining device I have herein illustrated arcase which may be constructed in any usual manner and which comprises a piece of leather or other flexible material folded along lines 2 and 3 and thus providing a central portion or back 1 and the side flaps 4 and 5. The side flaps are normally. folded over onto the central portion or back 1 and these flaps may be provided with any usual fastening means, such for example as the two-part snap fastener' indicated at 6.

My improved key-retaining device is adapted to form a permanent part of the case and is preferably made of sheet metal, although I contemplate that other materials might possibly be found useful. In con-v structing this key-retaining device I provide a piece of sheet metal of proper sha-pe, such piece comprising the attaching member 7 which is adapted to lie flat against the back member 1 of the case and which is secured to the said back member by means of rivets or eyelets 8. The piece of sheet metal is bent `forwardly at the upper edge of the attaching portion 7 and is then bent upwardly again to provide a platform 10 substantially parallel to but spaced forwardly from the plane of the attaching portion 7. The platform 1'0 is provided with a series of hori- Zontally spaced forwardly directed hollow struck-up substantially Vhemispherical projections 11, each furnished with a vertically elongate slot 13. In the completed device the metal is again bent at the upper edge of the platform 10 so as to extend rearwardly and downwardly in a curve forming the protectingror 'enclosing element 14 whose lower edge terminates adjacent to the upper edge of the attaching part 7. The forwardly positioned platform 10 and the rearwardly extending curved element 141 provide between them a cavity 9. Y

Vith each of the hemispherical projeck tions 11 I associate an individual key holder,

each such key holder preferably comprising an anchor member 16 and a key-engaging member 17. The anchor members may be made, if desired, by a stamping or other convenient operation from sheet metal and each anchor member comprises a head or enlargement 18 which is normally disposed within the cavity Q'between the members 10 and 14.' This head 18 is preferably substantially spherical and adapted to cooperate with the hemispherical concavity at the rear of the projection 11 to form a ball and socket joint. Each anchor member is provided with a relatively small neck portion 19 integrally united to the head 18 and projectiirg forwardly through the slot 13. The forward end of the neck 19 is preferably flat-tened and enlarged as shown at 2O and furnished with an opening or eyelet 21.

The key-engaging member 17 preferably consists of a length of wire which is bent at its central portion to form a substantially closed loop or eye 22 adapted to engage the opening or eyelet 21. The member 1T also comprises divergent legs 23 and 2l which, at their free ends, are bent to form curved beak-like hooks 25 and 26 which are oppositely directed and which overlap, thus collectively forming a split-loop adapted to receive a key in much the same way as the ordinary split-ring type of key holder. Such a split loop readily receives a key but positively prevents the escape of the key after it is once properly engaged therewith.

In assembling'rthe parts I first pass thel forward end 2O of the anchor member forrWardly through the slot 13 and then separate vthe hook members and 26 sufficiently to permit the keyengaging element 17 to be threaded through the opening k21 until the ring or loop 21 engages the opening in thepart 20. If desired, the ring 22 may now be subjected to` pressure so as completely to' l close'it, although this is not essential.

The above operations are performed while ,l the part 14 occupies the position shown in rig.

either before or after the assembly of the partsas above described.

The device thus provided is simple 1n character, its constituent parts are easy to make and assemble, it is compact vand light in weight, and it is very strong and durable.

j Furthermore, it provides maximum freedom ,fory theV keys, since the anchor members 15 may beV rotated to any position and maybe moved longitudinally in the slots, while .the key-'engaging members 17 may have a substantially universal movement limited only' by'cntact with the back and top of lthe case. TheV result of, this arrangei'nent ofI parts is Athat when the case is opened and turned to any position, the keys willstill han@ freely and will notcramp or project rigidly forwardior otherwise, and will not teiidto et mixed' up with each other, and, thus the greatest. liberty of use of the keys is afforded.

'I claim:

1. A keycase having a retaining member provided' with pivoted' connecting members adapted tocarry keyholders, said retaining member 'comprising a rigid sheet having anatta'ching' portion and' a.; platform spaced forwardly from the attaching portion, and a Vseries of substantially liemispherical protuberances formed in said platform, each projection having a diametrical slot mounting one of said connecting members.V

.2. A. key case comprising a casing, ka retaining member formed of sheet metal and consisting of an attaching portion secured to the casing, a platform spaced forwardly of the kupper edge of the attaching portion and arranged substantially parallel thereto, and an enclosingportion spaced behind the platform and terminating adjacent the said upper edge of the attaching portion, a series of spaced, substantially hemispheri'al protuberances formed in` said platform, cach protuberance having a diametrical slot, and a plurality of pivoted. connecting members adapted lto carry key holders, each connecting member having a. head retained behind one of said protuberances and cooperating therewith to provide a ball and socket joint.

3. A keyv case comprising a casing, a retaining member formedof sheet metal and consisting of a lower attaching portion, a platform spaced forwardly of theY upper kvedge of the attaching portion and arranged substantially parallel thereto, and an enclosing portion vcurving rearwardly behind the platform and having its upper edge terminating adjacent the upper edge of the attachingV portion, a series ofl spaced, substan- Ytially hemispheric'alv pro'tuber'ances formed in said platform, each protuberance having a diametrical slot extending transversely of said platform, and a plurality of anchor members adapted to carry key holders, each anchor member having a substantially hemispherical head pivotally mounted behind the platform and seating within one of said protuberances and cooperating therewith to constitute a ball and socket joint.

Signedby me at Berlin, Conn., this first day of July, 1927.

ROBERT G. LEGAT. 

